Heritage Assets in Inland Waters: An Appraisal of Archaeology Underwater in England’s Rivers and Canals

Abstract

This paper addresses the range of heritage assets that may be found under inland waters. The focus is on assets or features that go unnoticed because they are literally ‘in’ the water, beneath the surface. Heritage assets and their components under inland waters have received relatively little attention in England. Even in the case of recognisable significant assets adjacent to or spanning the water, the possible presence and significance of archaeological material below the water is sometimes overlooked. This paper reports on a project for Historic England (formerly English Heritage) that took a first step in seeking to establish the character and scale of the issues relating to heritage assets in inland waters, concentrating on designated heritage assets such as scheduled monuments and listed buildings in the first instance. The paper considers the threats to heritage assets in inland waters, their management, and the potential for greater awareness and appreciation. Attention is also paid to recent developments in methodologies and techniques through which assets in inland waters can be investigated. The paper focuses on non-tidal waterways, encompassing canals but with an emphasis on navigable rivers, notably the catchment of the rivers Kennet and Bristol Avon including the Kennet and Avon Canal.